POST-SPM

Hi everyone! I know this may be very late for me to share with u guys about my journey after SPM. But, I hope that through my story, it may help you to decide on what u wanna do in the future.

So now, you've got your SPM result. It may be excellent, devastating or just cukup2 makan. Well, whatever you have earned, just be grateful and accept it with an open heart. There's nothing you can do about it anymore right? So now is the time for you to take a deep breath and MOVE ON!

Probably now you have applied for scholarships, UPU or still applying for it. If you have decided on what you wanna take up for your tertiary education, CONGRATULATIONS! But if you are like me, who changed my choices of courses almost everyday, then I think you better continue reading this post of mine till the end.

So here's my story. Since I was a kid, I have always dreamt of being a medical doctor or a dentist. I am not really sure why but maybe because I wasn't really exposed to other careers back then. Then I entered secondary school(SainsKu), where I was the most confused person ever. One day I wanna be a pharmacist, during my high-spirited day I wanna be a military doctor, then the next day an accountant, petroleum engineer and so on. And I know that some of my friends knew how indecisive I was. And things got worse when I applied for scholarships.

I remember I applied for Bank Negara(BNM), PETRONAS, MARA, Swinburne, YTN and UPU. For BNM, I applied for Pharmacy as my first choice and Accountancy as the second one. And guess what? I didn't receive a call from them. Sedih2.. Maybe I should apply for Kijang instead of Kijang Emas in the first place. But it's fine. At least I'm not gonna study Pharmacy for my undergraduate (Chemistry and I, the teacher was great, but I don't think so I have genuine interest in it). Then for MARA, I applied for Pharmacy too. I got the scholarship but I wanted to change it into Medicine. Unfortunately, I couldn't because there was no empty place anymore. And I would tell you why I chose PETRONAS instead of MARA in the end. Then for Swinburne and YTN I main2 jer. And for UPU,as cliché it may be, I applied for PASUM and UNIMAS Sains Hayat.

Alright, let me tell you first that it has always been my dream to pursue my studies overseas specifically in the States and UK. Why States? Because I wanna meet David Archuleta!! Hehe, I was an avid fan of Archie. But what came in my way was Pharmacy in the UK(MARA) and Accountancy in NZ (petronas). So it was time to decide. If you are indecisive like me, I advise you to list down the adv and disadv of your choices.

Pharmacy:
Adv: In the UK ( I think this is the only adv) hehe
Disadv: Not interested in Chemistry
No secured job after graduating

Accountancy:
Adv: business and economics related, more to corporate world, help me in setting up my business and establishing a private boarding school in the future, 5 years bond with Petronas
Disadv: never studied acc before(risky), NZ(the last place in my mind)

After getting advices from my family and through prayer, I finally decided to go for PETRONAS. This step was the biggest leap of faith I've ever taken in my life. I just prayed to God, if this is according to your will, then let it be happen without obstacles. And until now, there's nothing that comes in my way which is directing me away from this path. Maybe there is, like I did badly for my class test one time, but nahh.. I believe that may be a reminder from God to be humble and keep trusting in Him. But so far so great. Now I realised, maybe God wants to place me in NZ because He believes NZ would be a condusive place for Him to prepare me for my purpose. And why accountancy? I don't know yet. But what I know, I do have the interest in business and making money. And having hope in God just makes me more optimistic in life.
I can't agree more with the saying "everything happens for a reason".

So how is my story? I hope it's not that boring and I wish you can get something from it. So my final words for you:
1)if u are confused about your future, list down the adv & disadv(do research about the courses)
2)see which one has more adv, seek advice from teachers and family
3)and most importantly, pray for it. Ask God what is HIS WILL, because He has a special purpose for you in life.
4)and don't forget, study what you like ya..

Love,
Isew

Empower women = Empower the world

WOMAN. God's beautiful creation. Made to be brave to live a life that glorifies Him. She is meant to live a big life, makes her own choices when she knows what's best for her. She deserves to be educated, to speak her own mind and to change the world she's living in.

We are fortunate. For we are given the right to get education, to work and to chase after our dreams. The problem is most of us are not really aware of what's happening to our sisters in other countries where they are being abused and oppressed because of their ridiculous culture which limits a woman's right and capabilities. While we are enjoying every single privilege we have, our friends are being beaten up and killed in their homeland because they are said to be doing the "wrong" things which are against their ideology and culture such as obtaining education and refusing to be in a forced marriage when they are underaged. So what are women expected to do their whole lives? Are their purposes in life just to get married, bear a lot of children, be sexually submissive towards their husbands and be afraid to speak up because they have no right to do so?

Before I move on, let me make one thing clear. I am not looking down on women who are staying at home and taking care of their children. I'm telling you, they are the gems of our nation because they are the ones who are going to educate and shape our future generations. If we want our next generations to be humane, intellectual, and people of virtue, it is crucial for the mothers to be educated too. I can't agree more with Brigham Young when he said, "When you educate a woman, you educate a generation". When you empower a woman, you empower the world.

So what can we do? Simple. Tell all women you know about their freedom to make a change in this world. Empower them to follow their dreams and encourage them to be the best they can in everything they do. And if you are a woman, inspire others to live courageously by the way you live. And never compromise with people around you who are downgrading women or saying that women are weak and mindless. Educate them about women empowerment and the importance of investing in young girls if they want to increase the nation's income or standard of living. When girls are educated, a country will have more human resources and intellectuals who will contribute to the economics, social and politics of the country. We may have no access to these countries where girls are being deprived of their rights. But what we can do is, make the best out of every opportunity that we have to develop ourselves and spread the message that girls, can run the world. 

Inspired by:

Women's International Day

Honor Diaries

Malala Yousafzai

Special thanks to:

My father in heaven, in whom I find my purpose in life

My dad, who always empowers me

My mom, who inspires me to be a strong woman

My teachers, who gave me the platform to develop myself

My friends, who are always there for me

and Asilah, the Wonderwoman who helps me in writing this :)